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Alex Salmond to testify at Holyrood over claims of conspiracy against him

Severin Carrell Former first minister to give evidence as feud intensifies with former allies including Nicola Sturgeon
Alex Salmond is due to give evidence at Holyrood on his allegations of a Scottish government conspiracy against him, with MSPs expected to issue a last-ditch order seeking the release of evidence.
The former first minister is expected to testify on oath from 12.30pm after weeks of wrangling over his appearance, and legal battles over the publication of his allegations against his former protege Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish National party.
In a dramatic intensification of his feud with his former allies, Salmond accused the current first minister and his former colleagues, including Peter Murrell, Sturgeon’s husband and SNP chief executive, of conspiring to the point of wanting him jailed.
They were involved, he alleges, in “a deliberate, prolonged, malicious and concerted effort” to destroy his reputation and career.
In a development linked to those allegations, the committee that will question Salmond is preparing to serve a legally enforced disclosure order on the Crown Office, Scotland’s prosecution service, later on Friday.
MSPs will order the Crown Office to release private WhatsApp and text messages between senior figures in the SNP and the Scottish government that Salmond believes prove they colluded to bolster his prosecution for multiple alleged sexual assaults.
Salmond was charged in 2019 with 14 counts of sexual assault, including one of attempted rape, but was acquitted of all charges after a high court trial in March 2020.
Sturgeon, who is due to finally give evidence next Wednesday, robustly rejected his claims and opposition criticism of her conduct in fiery exchanges during first minister’s questions on Thursday. Both Salmond and Sturgeon are expected to be questioned for about four hours.
She said Salmond had not yet presented a “shred of evidence” to justify his conspiracy theories. She said opposition leaders were traducing prosecutors and government institutions “just because they happen to dislike this government, and to sacrifice all of that on the altar of the ego of one man”.
These former allies, once the most potent partnership in Scottish politics, are being questioned by a cross-party committee set up to investigate the Scottish government’s botched internal inquiry in 2018 into sexual harassment complaints against Salmond brought by two civil servants.
That inquiry was declared unlawful on procedural grounds by a civil court judge in January 2019, and its conclusions struck down, after Salmond lodged a judicial review. He was later awarded £512,000 in legal costs by a judge; the Scottish government is estimated to have spent more than £600,000 fighting that case.
Leslie Evans, the permanent secretary of the Scottish government, has defended the government inquiry and said it was justified given the significance of the allegations against Salmond, and the need to protect government staff from harassment.
The committee’s disclosure order, using very rarely used powers under the Scotland Act that set up the devolved parliament in 1999, is the second time it has demanded the Crown Office release private messages.
In late January, the committee made its first instruction to the Crown Office. Some were handed over the following week, with MSPs only allowed to see them in a private room without getting any copies.
It emerged those messages included many from women who became complainers against Salmond in his trial. MSPs admitted that those were personal and private, and established those women were giving each other support.
Rape Crisis Scotland, which has represented many of the complainers, was furious and believed the committee had no right to read them. It said releasing private messages could dissuade future victims of sexual violence from coming forward.
Opposition members of the committee believe the Crown Office gave MSPs the wrong messages, and had failed to hand over those that Salmond alleges proved a conspiracy.
However, the committee is fast running short of time to study any fresh disclosures: some want to read them before Sturgeon gives evidence on Wednesday. It is unclear whether the Crown Office can be forced to comply or time can be found for the committee to study them before she appears.
source: Severin Carrell
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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